Tips about performing from Valerie Smith
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About Valerie Smith
The child of musical parents, Valerie Smith showed talent at an early age, and soon began singing Baptist hymns in church, and later began to accompany her parents to play her fiddle and sing with local country and bluegrass musicians in her hometown of Holt, Missouri and the surrounding area. A strong desire to learn more and to teach others prompted Valerie to attend the University of Missouri Conservatory of Music in Kansas City, where she received her B.A. in vocal music education. In 1992 moved to Nashville with her husband.
In Nashville, She formed the acoustic country group “Fresh Cactus”, honing her songwriting and performance skills. One thing led to another and eventually Valerie, J. Gregory Heinike, and Kraig Smith founded Bell Buckle Records and Valerie recorded her first highly acclaimed CD, “Patchwork Heart” and formed her band, Liberty Pike.
Since then, Valerie’s music has taken her from coast to coast and around the world. She has been the recipient of IBMA awards and has been nominated for a Grammy Award as part of the Ralph Stanley “Clinch Mountain Sweethearts” project, and she has appeared on the famous Grand Ol’ Opry as guest of hall of famer Charlie Louvin. Most recently she has released a duet album with bandmate Becky Buller named Here’s A Little Song. Valerie, her husband Kraig and daughter, Josie now reside in their adopted hometown of Bell Buckle, Tennessee.
